Sydney (South) - Haymarket

Population growth drivers in Sydney (South) - Haymarket are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Sydney South Haymarket's population was 19,935 as of the 2021 Census. By February 2026, it had increased to around 25,216, a rise of 5,281 people (26.5%). This growth is inferred from ABS estimates: 23,756 in June 2024 plus an additional 284 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density reached 23,348 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. This growth exceeded both state (7.8%) and Greater Sydney averages, driven primarily by overseas migration contributing approximately 93.7% of overall population gains. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future trends forecast a significant population increase in the top quartile of Australian statistical areas, with the area expected to grow by 10,129 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 34.4% over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Sydney (South) - Haymarket was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Sydney South Haymarket has seen approximately 170 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 854 homes were approved, with zero approvals recorded so far in FY26. On average, about 2.3 people have moved into the area per new home constructed over these years, indicating strong demand which supports property values.

Developers are targeting the premium market segment as new homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $573,000. This financial year has seen $163.7 million in commercial development approvals, suggesting robust commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Sydney South Haymarket records higher-than-average construction levels, with 41.0% more approvals per person over the five-year period.

All new constructions have been townhouses or apartments, promoting higher-density living and providing affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. By 2041, Sydney South Haymarket is projected to gain around 8,669 residents. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.

Sydney (South) - Haymarket has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 73 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Mariyung Fleet (New Intercity Fleet), Atlassian Central, Central Place Sydney, and Harbourside Redevelopment by Mirvac. The following details projects likely most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Sydney (South) - Haymarket ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Sydney South - Haymarket has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. Its unemployment rate is 1.7%. As of September 2025, 14,469 residents are employed at an unemployment rate of 2.5%, lower than Greater Sydney's 4.2%.

Workforce participation stands at 65.0% compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. Home working is high, with 38.1% of residents doing so, though Covid-19 impacts should be considered. Leading industries include accommodation & food, professional & technical, and finance & insurance. The area specializes in accommodation & food (4.3 times the regional level) but has lower representation in health care & social assistance (6.3% vs 14.1%).

There are 2.6 workers per resident, indicating it functions as an employment hub. Over Sep 2024 to Sep 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.8%, employment declined by 1.2%, leading to a 0.3 percentage point unemployment rise. Conversely, Greater Sydney saw employment and labour force growth of 2.1% and 2.4%, respectively, with a 0.2 percentage point unemployment increase. According to Jobs and Skills Australia's May-25 forecasts, national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sydney South - Haymarket's industry mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.3% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2023, Sydney (South) - Haymarket SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $42,667 and an average income of $95,679. These figures are higher than the national averages of $60,817 and $83,003 respectively for Greater Sydney. Based on Wage Price Index growth from financial year 2023 to September 2025 (an increase of 8.86%), estimated median income is approximately $46,447 and average income is around $104,156. In 2021 Census data, Haymarket's household income ranked at the 73rd percentile ($2,108 weekly) and personal income at the 52nd percentile. The majority of residents (34.6%) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket. Economic strength is evident with 31% of households earning over $3,000 weekly, supporting high consumer spending despite housing costs consuming 25.8% of income. Disposable income ranks at the 58th percentile and Haymarket's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Sydney (South) - Haymarket features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Sydney's South - Haymarket area, as per the latest Census data, houses comprised 0.1% of dwellings while other types (semi-detached, apartments, 'other') accounted for 99.9%. This contrasts with Sydney metropolitan areas where houses made up 55.9% and other dwellings 44.1%. Home ownership in South Haymarket was 12.0%, lower than the Sydney metro average, with mortgaged dwellings at 11.0% and rented ones at 76.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment here was $2,600, higher than Sydney's $2,427, while median weekly rent stood at $620 compared to the metro area's $470. Nationally, South Haymarket's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national average of $375.

Sydney (South) - Haymarket features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 50.3 percent of all households, including 9.2 percent couples with children, 33.5 percent couples without children, and 4.5 percent single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 49.7 percent, with lone person households at 30.4 percent and group households comprising 19.3 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

The educational profile of Sydney (South) - Haymarket exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational attainment in Sydney (South) - Haymarket shows that 53.0% of residents aged 15 years and over hold university qualifications, compared to the national average of 30.4% and the NSW average of 32.2%. This indicates a significant educational advantage for the area. Among these residents with university qualifications, 36.2% have bachelor degrees, 15.1% have postgraduate qualifications, and 1.7% hold graduate diplomas. Vocational credentials are also prevalent in Haymarket, with 26.1% of residents aged 15 years and over holding such qualifications.

This includes advanced diplomas held by 18.9% of residents and certificates held by 7.2%. Educational participation is notably high in the area, with 43.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.8% enrolled in tertiary education, 2.0% in primary education, and 1.6% pursuing secondary education.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Public transport analysis shows 93 active stops operating within Sydney (South) - Haymarket. These stops offer a mix of ferry, train, light rail, and bus services. There are 111 individual routes collectively providing 72,289 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 147 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward, with walking being notably common at 29%, followed by train at 28% and bus at 17%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.1 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 38.1% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 10,327 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 777 weekly trips per individual stop.

Sydney (South) - Haymarket's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Sydney (South) - Haymarket shows excellent health outcomes based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence, with very low prevalence across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 69% of the total population of 17,323 people, compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 2.9% and 2.9% of residents respectively.

90.9% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. The area has 4.9% of residents aged 65 and over (1,222 people), lower than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, aligning with national rankings similar to those of the general population.

Sydney (South) - Haymarket is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Sydney South's Haymarket area has one of the country's highest cultural diversities, with 76.0% speaking a language other than English at home and 82.9% born overseas. The dominant religion is Buddhism, at 30.2%, significantly higher than Greater Sydney's 4.1%. Regarding ancestry, Chinese comprise 33.5%, Other 33.3%, and English 9.1%, compared to regional averages of 8.4%, 16.0%, and 19.0% respectively.

Notably, Korean (3.1%), Spanish (0.8%), and Vietnamese (2.2%) groups are overrepresented in Haymarket compared to regional figures of 1.1%, 0.6%, and 1.8%.

Sydney (South) - Haymarket hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Sydney (South) - Haymarket's median age at 31 years is lower than Greater Sydney's average of 37 and the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, it has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (41.4%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (2.2%). This 25-34 concentration is significantly higher than the national average of 14.4%. Between 2021 and present, the population aged 35-44 has increased from 19.8% to 21.6%, while the age group 55-64 has decreased from 5.0% to 4.0%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate that the age profile will significantly change. The 25-34 age cohort is expected to grow steadily, increasing by 1,890 people (18%) from 10,431 to 12,322 residents.